Return to Hope as Another Clinton Seeks the Presidency

4 minute read

Hope, Ark., was little known to the American people before 1992. A sleepy southern town of less than 10,000 people, the hamlet was thrown into the limelight of a political campaign when one of their own, Bill Clinton, ran for office as the ‘Man from Hope’. Following the release of a short film about Clinton’s childhood during the Democratic National Convention, Hope emerged as America’s symbolic every-town and for a time, became the center of the universe.

But much has changed since this Clinton was elected. Mirroring the political shift of its Southern neighbors, an impassioned Republican populism has taken hold. Now, as another Clinton runs for the presidency, Magnum photographer Eli Reed returned to Hope. “In a small town, things become very purposeful in a big way,” Reed tells TIME. “In today’s cynicism and fear, Hope represents the American dream: a place where it all begins, where you fight your way to the top no matter how humbling your beginnings.”

After a six-hour road trip from Texas to Hope, Reed wandered around town to get a feel for the place, attending Republican and Democratic committee meetings, enjoying the town’s historic watermelon contests, and spending time with the locals. While it’s a hot bed of mixed views about Barack Obama and George W. Bush, Reed says there’s still hope in Hope. “Here, it doesn’t matter who you are, people respect you,” he says. “If you’re there long enough, you’ve become a part of the family. You spend time in the same places, you see the same people, when someone passes away, you lose part of the community. You share many ways of thinking and can talk about their differences in a reasonable way.”

Mark Smith standing in front of his Trump sign. Hope, AR. 2016.
Mark Smith standing in front of his Trump sign. Hope, Ark. 2016.Eli Reed—Magnum Photos

While photographing a stalwart Trump supporter, Reed was surprised to see a Democrat cross his lawn towards them. “I started getting nervous, wondering if this would be a problem,” he says. “But they shook hands and called each other neighbor. That mattered more to them. That’s the hope for the United States.”

The city’s old fashioned neighborly kindness serves as a progressive symbol of hope in more ways than one. Hope’s racial makeup—48% white and 43% black—offers an optimistic look at coexistence in light of the recent racial debate that has engulfed the country ahead of the 2016 presidential election. “The beat goes on,” says Reed, the first black photographer at Magnum Photos. “This is a never-ending story. The U.S. is changing and the more it changes, the more intense it gets and the more real it gets. In Hope, things take a long time to unravel or to ravel but when they do, we can see a lasting push in the right direction.”

Does Hilary have a leg up in the small town that played a part in her husband’s successful candidacy? Reed is doubtful. “In some ways she is as new or newer to Hope as she is to the rest of the country,” he says. “Had she spent more time with the people and wasn’t looked at as an outsider, maybe things might be different.”

Reed, who also photographed Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993, recalls the thrill of the historic moment, which has ripple effects today. “The U.S. is a symbol all over the world of coming together with a common purpose,” he says. “With all that has happened in the past, we can’t take two steps backward. We must move forward. When there are places where two people from different parties are shaking hands, there is hope.”

Eli Reed is an American photographer, professor and author. This project was commissioned by Magnum Photos and a wider selection of images, edited by Reed himself, can be viewed on the Magnum website.

Olivier Laurent, who edited this photo essay, is the editor of TIME LightBox. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @olivierclaurent

Rachel Lowry is a writer and contributor for TIME LightBox. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Picture of Bill Clinton on the wall of the meeting room. Hope, AR. 2016.
Picture of Bill Clinton on the wall of the meeting room. Hope, Ark. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos
Cityscapes in Hope, AR. 2016.
Cityscapes in Hope, Ark. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos
The house that Bill Clinton lived in later in his life, at 321 East 13th Street, Hope, AR. 2016.
The house that Bill Clinton lived in later in his life, at 321 East 13th Street, Hope, Ark. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos
Cityscapes in Hope, AR. 2016.
Cityscapes in Hope, Ark. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos
National Historic Site of President Bill Clinton’s Birthplace Home. Hope, AR. 2016.
National Historic Site of President Bill Clinton’s Birthplace Home. Hope, Ark. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos
Silvia Brown converses with Judy Lee Flowers while Silvia's parents listen. Hope, AR. 2016.
Silvia Brown converses with Judy Lee Flowers while Silvia's parents listen. Hope, Ark. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos
Margaret Smith inside female rest room where placard of Hillary Clinton is on display. Hope, AR. 2016.
Margaret Smith inside female rest room where placard of Hillary Clinton is on display. Hope, Ark. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos
The last Touch store going out of business in Hope, AR. 2016.
The last Touch store going out of business in Hope, Ark. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos
Sara Darling, Chairman of the Hempstead County Republican Committee meets with her fellow Republicans at Big Jake’s Barbeque restaurant and leads the monthly meeting. Hope, AR. 2016.
Sara Darling, Chairman of the Hempstead County Republican Committee meets with her fellow Republicans at Big Jake’s Barbeque restaurant and leads the monthly meeting. Hope, Ark. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos
Monthly meeting of Hempstead County Democrats. (Left to Right) Mary McTherdon, Catherine Rowe,Doris Brown, Sandra Rodgers, Silvia Brown, Eva Morehead (county clerk), Linda Blackman (in the process of running for a political office), and Judy Lee Flowers, Treasurer. Hope, AR. 2016.
Monthly meeting of Hempstead County Democrats. (Left to Right) Mary McTherdon, Catherine Rowe,Doris Brown, Sandra Rodgers, Silvia Brown, Eva Morehead (county clerk), Linda Blackman (in the process of running for a political office), and Judy Lee Flowers, Treasurer. Hope, Ark. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos
Cityscapes in Hope, AR. 2016.
Cityscapes in Hope, AArkR. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos
Local restaurant interior. Hope, AR. 2016.
Local restaurant interior. Hope, Ark. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos
The house that Bill Clinton grew up in. Hope, AR. 2016.
The house that Bill Clinton grew up in. Hope, Ark. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos
Portrait of Chamber of Commerce President Mark Keith and Wendell Hoover standing in front of replica of award winning watermelon in the Chamber of Commerce office. Hope, AR. 2016.
Portrait of Chamber of Commerce President Mark Keith and Wendell Hoover standing in front of replica of award winning watermelon in the Chamber of Commerce office. Hope, Ark. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos
Downtown Hope, AR. 2016.
Downtown Hope, Ark. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos
The house that Bill Clinton lived in later in his life, at 321 East 13th Street, Hope, AR. 2016.
The house that Bill Clinton lived in later in his life, at 321 East 13th Street, Hope, Ark. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos
Sara Darling, Chairman of the Hempstead County Republican Committee meets with her fellow Republicans at Big Jake’s Barbeque restaurant and leads the monthly meeting. In this photo, they are pledging allegiance to our flag. Hope, AR. 2016.
Sara Darling, Chairman of the Hempstead County Republican Committee meets with her fellow Republicans at Big Jake’s Barbeque restaurant and leads the monthly meeting. In this photo, they are pledging allegiance to our flag. Hope, Ark. 2016. Eli Reed—Magnum Photos

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com